Short Summary

IN PARIS, THE EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE MARITIME POWERS AT THE OPENING OF A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), PRESENTED A UNITED FRONT AGAINST AMERICA'S DEMANDS WHICH CONFERENCE SOURCES SAID THEY CONSIDERED AS AN "INFRINGEMENT OF SOVEREIGNTY" AND AN "UNJUSTIFIED INTERFERENCE IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING".

Description

IN PARIS, THE EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE MARITIME POWERS AT THE OPENING OF A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), PRESENTED A UNITED FRONT AGAINST AMERICA'S DEMANDS WHICH CONFERENCE SOURCES SAID THEY CONSIDERED AS AN "INFRINGEMENT OF SOVEREIGNTY" AND AN "UNJUSTIFIED INTERFERENCE IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING".

THE CONFERENCE GROUPS THE MEMBER STATES OF THE 20-NATION ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (O.E.C.D.). IT IS PRESIDED OVER BY MR. J.C. LANGLEY, OF CANADA. JAPAN, DUE TO BECOME A FULL MEMBER OF O.E.C.D. SHORTLY, WAS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE CONFERENCE.

ADMIRAL JOHN HARLLEE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION, VOICED AMERICAN CONCERN OVER A DISPARITY IN FREIGHT RATES OF NON-AMERICAN SHIPPING LINES SERVING THE UNITED STATES, CONFERENCE SOURCES SAID THESE WERE LOWER ON THE EUROPE-UNITED STATES RUN THAN ON THE UNITED STATES-EUROPE STAGE.

THE U.S. FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION WANTED THE NON-AMERICAN SHIPPING LINES EITHER TO LEVEL UP THE FREIGHT RATES BOTH WAYS OR SUBMIT INFORMATION ON THEIR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES TO EXPLAIN THE DISPARITY. INFORMATION SOUGHT EMBRACED CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS MATTERS, INCLUDING FREIGHT EARNINGS, UNUSED CARGO SPACE AND COMMODITIES CARRIED, WHICH SHIPPERS WERE NOT PREPARED TO GIVE, CONFERENCE SOURCES SAID.

THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION TWICE POSTPONED THE DEADLINE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. THE LATEST DATE WAS NOW FIXED FOR MARCH 2, BEYOND WHICH A FINE OF 100 DOLLARS A DAY COULD BE IMPOSED ON SHIPS FAILING TO PRODUCE THIS INFORMATION WHEN THEY CALLED IN AMERICAN PORTS.